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Biz Picture - Recap of the week's top business stories

Published: Saturday, January 18, 2014 at 1:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 17, 2014 at 6:49 p.m.

Local real estate market improving
Southeastern N.C. | The Wilmington-area residential real estate market is in the midst of a steady improvement, real estate experts said last week as the final sales and price figures for 2013 were released.
Sales for the full year rose 10.6 percent to 6,258 from 5,656 in 2012, according to the data.
The average price of a home climbed 5.4 percent to $231,451 from 2012, when prices bottomed out at $219,451. Last year was the first gain in average prices since 2007, when they stood at a historic peak of $272,784.
Call to extend jobless benefits is opposed
Raleigh | The push by President Obama and many Democrats to extend emergency unemployment insurance benefits is running into opposition in North Carolina.
The GOP-led General Assembly last session voted to cut off benefits for the long-term jobless in late June to help pay down $2.8 billion in debt owed to the federal government resulting from benefit extensions through the Great Recession.
There were more than 2,300 long-term unemployed in the Wilmington area – 70,000 statewide – who lost their federal benefits under the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Program on June 30.
U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C., has proposed restoring those benefits. But some state Republicans are wary of the idea.
Wilmington jumps in economic survey
Wilmington | The Port City ranks 77 among 200 metropolitan areas by the Milken Institute's 2013 “Best Performing Cities” index.
This year's index offered by the California-based economic think tank was marked by cities strong in high technology and energy, according to the report.
Wilmington jumped 37 spots in 2013 from No. 114 in 2012. It ranked 154 in job growth from 2007 through 2012, but 86 in 2011 and 2012, according to the report.
Veggie Wagon expansion complete
Carolina Beach | The Veggie Wagon has expanded, among other things doubling its kitchen space.
Since the behind-the-scenes portion of the building has more space, that means there is room to expand products on the retail side. That includes doubling, to 10, the number of local beers the Pleasure Island business can have on tap.
TSA PreCheck office now open
Wilmington | Wilmington-area residents can now conduct their in-person interview and background check for the federal Transportation Security Administration's PreCheck program in the Port City.
The TSA office, located near the corner of Shipyard Boulevard and Carolina Beach Road, started processing applications for the expedited security screening process last week.
The PreCheck program makes it faster for fliers – who are willing to pay an $85 fee – to navigate security because it cuts down the number of security screenings they're subject to.

<b>Local real estate market improving</b>
Southeastern N.C. | The Wilmington-area residential real estate market <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20140113/ARTICLES/140119896/1002/news06?Title=Health-of-area-housing-market-continues-to-improve#gsc.tab=0">is in the midst of a steady improvement</a>, real estate experts said last week as the final sales and price figures for 2013 were released.
Sales for the full year rose 10.6 percent to 6,258 from 5,656 in 2012, according to the data.
The average price of a home climbed 5.4 percent to $231,451 from 2012, when prices bottomed out at $219,451. Last year was the first gain in average prices since 2007, when they stood at a historic peak of $272,784.
<b>Call to extend jobless benefits is opposed</b>
Raleigh | The push by President Obama and many Democrats to extend emergency unemployment insurance benefits is <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20140114/ARTICLES/140119854/1177?Title=N-C-lawmakers-at-odds-over-extension-of-jobless-benefits#gsc.tab=0">running into opposition in North Carolina</a>.
The GOP-led General Assembly last session voted to cut off benefits for the long-term jobless in late June to help pay down $2.8 billion in debt owed to the federal government resulting from benefit extensions through the Great Recession.
There were more than 2,300 long-term unemployed in the Wilmington area – 70,000 statewide – who lost their federal benefits under the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Program on June 30.
U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C., has proposed restoring those benefits. But some state Republicans are wary of the idea.
<b>Wilmington jumps in economic survey</b>
Wilmington | The Port City <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20140113/ARTICLES/140119889/1002/news06?Title=Wilmington-ranks-77-on-Best-Performing-Cities-index#gsc.tab=0">ranks 77 among 200 metropolitan areas</a> by the Milken Institute's 2013 “Best Performing Cities” index.
This year's index offered by the California-based economic think tank was marked by cities strong in high technology and energy, according to the report.
Wilmington jumped 37 spots in 2013 from No. 114 in 2012. It ranked 154 in job growth from 2007 through 2012, but 86 in 2011 and 2012, according to the report.
<b>Veggie Wagon expansion complete </b>
Carolina Beach | The <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20140112/ARTICLES/140119920/1002/news06?Title=Carolina-Beach-s-Veggie-Wagon-expands-to-meet-demand#gsc.tab=0">Veggie Wagon has expanded</a>, among other things doubling its kitchen space.
Since the behind-the-scenes portion of the building has more space, that means there is room to expand products on the retail side. That includes doubling, to 10, the number of local beers the Pleasure Island business can have on tap.
<b>TSA PreCheck office now open</b>
Wilmington | Wilmington-area residents can now <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20140113/ARTICLES/140119882/1020/news01?Title=Flight-Pre-check-program-now-available-in-Wilmington-#gsc.tab=0">conduct their in-person interview and background check for the federal Transportation Security Administration's PreCheck program in the Port City</a>.
The TSA office, located near the corner of Shipyard Boulevard and Carolina Beach Road, started processing applications for the expedited security screening process last week.
The PreCheck program makes it faster for fliers – who are willing to pay an $85 fee – to navigate security because it cuts down the number of security screenings they're subject to.